>>On Aug 18, 12:12=A0pm, mimus
hotmail.com> wrote:>>> On Mon, 18 Aug 2008 11:38:24 -0500, PV wrote:
>>>> Thomas Lindgren <***********@*****.***> writes:
>>>>> On the other hand, Big Science isn't just a conspiracy theory but a
>>>>> social phenomenon quite ripe for a kicking.
>>>> Yes, what with them being so insufferably *right* all the time. Heavens
>>>> forbid that science would demand that you can prove your claims. *
>>> I'm not sure what exactly "Big Science" is, but there's an awful lot of
>>> immature sciences floating around out there,
>>What I've been arguing for, for some years, Â is an improved
>>metatheoretical approach in science. Â Some objective, systematic way
>>of evaluating the utility of specific theoretical formulations used as
>>a basis for experimentation, analogous to the way we expect scientists
>>to do controlled experiments, currently. Â In other words, scientists
>>couldn't simply propose any conception of things they felt like, and
>>then do experiments on it.
>
> Would you have goon squads breaking into laboratories to arrest
> people performing unauthorized experiments?
>
> Two SFnal references come to mind:
>
> Asimov's "The Dead Past", which did indeed have people getting arrested
> for unautorized scientific research -- or even historical.
>
> The Lucas Garner phase of the ARM in Niven's Known Space. This had
> the suppression of inventions viewed as "dangerous".
>
> --
> Michael F. Stemper
> #include
> A preposition is something that you should never end a sentence with.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Not exactly. But, any chance that institutions like the the Spanish
Inquisition might actually have had some social utility?
"So, Dr. Jones, you don't care if your research work has any practical
utility or value of any type? Well, right this way, the stake and
bonfire are at the back of the building. And may the Lord have mercy
on your soul!"
